sominator Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Hi all, I've read that putting an analog boost pedal in front of digital multi-effects processers like the POD Go, Helix, etc. can do wonders for improving the overall tone. Additionally, the person that sold me my POD Go suggested putting a simple buffer--even just a tuner--in front of it for a similar reason. Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, are there certain pedals (or types of pedals) that you'd recommend? Thanks for any suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 It is useful for POD Go devices that have not yet had a manufacturing hardware fault fixed. Line 6 has a lifetime warranty for this issue so if you get it fixed (no cost to you) you will no longer need the buffer. Contact support to get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sominator Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 Thanks! Actually, my device was manufactured after the fix so it doesn't have that impedance issue. On 5/8/2024 at 11:16 AM, silverhead said: It is useful for POD Go devices that have not yet had a manufacturing hardware fault fixed. Line 6 has a lifetime warranty for this issue so if you get it fixed (no cost to you) you will no longer need the buffer. Contact support to get it fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickkit Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 I have a Keeley Mini Compressor at the input and it not only takes care of the input Z issue, but as analog compressor it sounds better than any of the digital compressors included... Also this frees up an additional block to be used elsewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sominator Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 Great to hear! I could use that block for something else, too! On 5/10/2024 at 2:22 PM, Rickkit said: I have a Keeley Mini Compressor at the input and it not only takes care of the input Z issue, but as analog compressor it sounds better than any of the digital compressors included... Also this frees up an additional block to be used elsewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sominator Posted June 10 Author Share Posted June 10 I tried this and quite liked it! On 5/10/2024 at 2:22 PM, Rickkit said: I have a Keeley Mini Compressor at the input and it not only takes care of the input Z issue, but as analog compressor it sounds better than any of the digital compressors included... Also this frees up an additional block to be used elsewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sominator Posted June 10 Author Share Posted June 10 For anyone following this topic, I experimented with several different analog pedals, either in front of the POD Go or in the FX loop, depending on the appropriate use case. These included the Xotic EP, SP, and Super Clean, and a Keeley Mini Comp. None of them made an appreciable difference in the output, although they're certainly great quality and do what they say on the box. I particularly liked the sound of the Keeley (and the EP was too dark for my tastes). I did resolve an issue that was affecting the POD Go's overall sound, where some very nice commenters pointed out that I had the Master volume on my amps all the way up, which was essentially getting in the way of my tones. My main guitar has a broken volume pot/knob and is stuck at 10, so it was driving the amps too hard and making everything sound muddy. I'm not against trying some other analog pedals or dropping one in for a specific tone (or to save DSP), but I also didn't find anything to suggest that having one improves the POD Go's sounds altogether just by being there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theElevators Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 I think it's just voodoo stuff.... with analog pedals. I got rid of all my pedals after switching over to Line 6. I just have the Shure wireless, then Helix/Pod Go. But if you are looking for something to tweak, here's a story. My tone was just sterile on the Helix, and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I decided to try to tweak things one component at a time... And then I increased the gain parameter of my Mail Order Twin by exactly 1%--and that all of a sudden fixed it for me. The sustain was there all of a sudden, just came to life. I am running my amp very clean, but with very very slight grit. That 1% gain increase just did some magic number for me. There you go! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sominator Posted June 11 Author Share Posted June 11 That's wacky! On 6/10/2024 at 4:23 PM, theElevators said: I think it's just voodoo stuff.... with analog pedals. I got rid of all my pedals after switching over to Line 6. I just have the Shure wireless, then Helix/Pod Go. But if you are looking for something to tweak, here's a story. My tone was just sterile on the Helix, and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I decided to try to tweak things one component at a time... And then I increased the gain parameter of my Mail Order Twin by exactly 1%--and that all of a sudden fixed it for me. The sustain was there all of a sudden, just came to life. I am running my amp very clean, but with very very slight grit. That 1% gain increase just did some magic number for me. There you go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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